Anike Agbaje-Williams, the first person to appear on African television, has passed away at the age of 88. She made history on October 31, 1959, as the first face to be seen on Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) during its test transmission and official opening night. WNTV, now the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), was Africa’s first television station. In a statement signed by Mrs. Banji Sokoya, a family member, it was confirmed that Agbaje-Williams passed away peacefully in Ibadan, Oyo State, where she spent most of her life. Born on October 23, 1937, Agbaje-Williams was also the first voice on Africa’s first commercial radio station, WNBS, earning her the title “Double First.” She built a distinguished career in broadcasting, rising through the ranks to become a respected producer and director, before retiring in July 1986. Her family described her passing as a profound loss, emphasizing her impactful life and dedication to broadcasting. They expressed gratitude for the love and ...

  President  Donald Trump  said that he formulates to offer a “gold card” visa with a path to citizenship for $5 million, cutting out a 35-year-old EB - 5 business visa for investors. “They’ll be wealthy and they’ll be successful, and they’ll be spending a lot of money and paying a lot of taxes and employing a lot of people, and we think it’s going to be extremely successful,” Trump said Tuesday in the Oval Office. Commerce Secretary  Howard Lutnick  observed the Trump Gold Card would replace EB-5 visas in two weeks. EB-5s were created by Congress in 1990 to generate foreign investment and are available to people who spend about $1 million on a company that employs at least 10 people. Lutnick said the gold card — actually a green card, or permanent legal residency — would raise the price of admission for investors and do away with fraud and “nonsense” that he said characterize the EB-5 program. Like other green cards, it would include a path to citizenship. ...

  Ekkachai and Laksana Tiranarat, the Thai couple who made history with the longest recorded kiss lasting 58 hours and 35 minutes in February 2013, have revealed that they are no longer together. Speaking on the BBC Sounds podcast Witness History, Ekkachai echoed on their record-breaking achievement and the end of their marriage. “I am very proud. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We spent a long time together, and I’m trying to remember the good memories and that we did this together,” he told host Megan Jones. The couple first broke the record in 2011 with a 46-hour, 24-minute kiss, surpassing the previous record of 32 hours and seven minutes. Initially hesitant to participate due to Laksana’s recent recovery from illness, they were eventually swayed by the competition’s prize—50,000 Thai Baht (approximately £1,200 at the time) and a diamond ring. Ekkachai recalled the intense conditions of the contest, where competitors had to maintain lip contact at all times, remain awak...

President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed reporters at the White House Monday about process close to ending the now three-year-old war between Russia and Ukraine.  The Trump administration introduced a rival General Assembly resolution, which did not call Russia the aggressor or acknowledge Ukraine’s territorial integrity, CNN reported. The U.S. voted against its European allies and aligned with Russia on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also siding with other non-democratic countries like North Korea, Belarus and Sudan, according to Axios.  I n a day-long discussion  between the two leaders, Trump and Macron showed a friendly rapport based on years of good ties. However, Macron made clear he disagreed with Trump on some key issues.  https://youtu.be/Hd7jaPN4d2s?si=bmEaJ7f2lXu8t2dJ

Russia has stated that it prefers a long-term peace agreement in Ukraine that addresses what it considers the root causes of the conflict, rather than a temporary U.S.-brokered ceasefire that could lead to renewed hostilities. Speaking in an interview on Monday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov maintained Moscow’s position, saying: "We can clearly see the American desire for a quick ceasefire, but without a lasting resolution, this would only lead to a resurgence of conflict with even more serious consequences—including for Russian-American relations." Ryabkov italicized that any agreement must include provisions that address the underlying issues of the war. Russia-U.S. Talks in Riyadh His remarks come after recent discussions between Russia and the U.S. in Riyadh, where Moscow expressed willingness to work toward restoring bilateral ties and preparing for future Ukraine peace talks. Ryabkov also reiterated Russia’s long-standing claim about the mistreatment ...

The legal dispute over the estate of the late former Group Managing Director and CEO of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, has been taken to the Court of Appeal following a ruling by the Lagos High Court. The appellants, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe (the late banker’s father) and Christian Wigwe (his cousin), have challenged the decision delivered on February 6, 2025, by Justice Olayinka Adeyemi. They argue that the judge erred in declining their request for interim reliefs pending the determination of the substantive suit. Grounds for Appeal In a notice of appeal dated February 13, the appellants outlined ten grounds for contesting the ruling. Central to their argument is the claim that the trial judge mistakenly held that the reliefs sought in the interlocutory application were identical or similar to those in the substantive suit. According to them, the interim reliefs were solely aimed at preserving the estate and ensuring the welfare of the late Wigwe’s minor children pending the resolution of t...

  France’s Senate has approved a bill seeking to prohibit undocumented immigrants from getting married in the country, as part of the government’s efforts to tighten immigration laws. The proposed legislation, backed by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, passed its first reading in the upper house on Thursday, with 227 votes in favor and 110 against. The bill, which aims to prevent sham marriages and curb residence permit loopholes, will now move to the National Assembly for further consideration. However, it contradicts a 2003 ruling by France’s Constitutional Council, which stated that a person’s irregular status alone should not prevent them from marrying. Critics, including Greens senator Mélanie Vogel and Socialist politician Corinne Narassiguin, have condemned the bill as unconstitutional and fueling xenophobia. The move was reportedly sparked by a 2023 case, where a northern France mayor refused to officiate the marriage of a former mosq...

High - level diplomats from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies are set to meet in South Africa on Thursday, focusing on global issues amid the absence of the United States' top envoy. The two-day talks, a prelude to the G20 summit in November, mark the first time the foreign ministers' meeting is being held in Africa. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the keynote address. South Africa, the first African nation to lead the G20, has positioned its presidency as an opportunity to amplify the voices of poorer nations. The G20, comprising 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, accounts for over 80% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population. However, the US will not participate at a high level after Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to attend, citing South Africa’s alleged "anti-American" stance. Instead, Dana Brown, deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Pretoria, will represent Washington. Key topics include...

  Former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has petitioned a Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, seeking a declaration that he is not the father of Adaobi Alagwu’s daughter. Ayeni and Alagwu have been involved in a paternity dispute since 2022. While Alagwu persists that Ayeni is the biological father, he has consistently denied any parental ties to the child. During a court session on Monday, Ayeni, represented by his lawyer, Silas Onu, maintained that he was never married to Alagwu and urged the court to formally declare their alleged relationship nonexistent. "I want a declaration that she was never my wife. We were never married, and I am not the biological father of her daughter," Ayeni stated. Recounting details of their past relationship, Ayeni admitted that he initially made financial commitments before and after the child's birth, including paying money to Alagwu’s father as dowry and allowing the child to bear his surname...

      Governor     Babajide Sanwo-Olu  Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have strongly condemned Monday’s invasion of the assembly complex by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police, describing it as an attack on democracy and a national disgrace. During a plenary session attended by 36 lawmakers, the legislators demanded an explanation from the Lagos State Director of DSS regarding the presence of security operatives at the legislative complex. They also urged National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to investigate the incident and provide a public report on the findings. The assembly further called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene immediately to prevent any escalation. Expressing their outrage, the lawmakers denounced the invasion as an abuse of legislative procedures and a threat to democracy. “This is not a government ruled by force. What happened today is an embarrassment and an act of harassment,” said ...

  Israel’s defence ministry stated Sunday that a shipment of “heavy” US-made bombs arrived overnight in Israel, as Marco Rubio began his first visit to the country as Washington’s top diplomat. “A shipment of heavy aerial bombs recently released by the US government was received and unloaded overnight in Israel,” the ministry said in a statement, referring to MK-84 munitions recently authorized by President Donald Trump’s administration. “The munitions shipment that arrived in Israel, released by the Trump administration, represents a significant asset for the air force and the IDF (military) and serves as further evidence of the strong alliance between Israel and the United States,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in the statement. The Trump administration had earlier in February approved the sale of more than $7.4 billion in bombs, missiles and related equipment to Israel. The sale “improves Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence...

  National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu has condemned the Canadian government for denying visas to Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, and other senior military officers. Speaking on Thursday at the National Association of the Institute for Security Studies' annual lecture in Abuja, Ribadu described the move as “disrespectful”, asserting that Nigeria should not seek validation from foreign nations. His reaction followed General Musa’s revelation that he and his team had been invited to an event honoring war veterans but were left stranded after some members were denied entry by the Canadian embassy. “Yesterday, I was supposed to be in Canada for an event honoring our veterans. Some of us got visas, while others were denied. It was very disappointing,” Musa said. Even with the setback,  Musa remained strong, viewing the situation as a reminder of the importance of Nigeria standing firm and strengthening its sovereignty. “Every disappointment is a b...

  In the middle of the news of a breakup with his wife, Annie Macualay, Nigerian pop star Innocent Idibia popularly known as Tuface or 2baba, has confirmed relationship with the Deputy Majority Leader of the Edo State House of Assembly, Natasha Osawaru. He  caused people to feel very excited when he appeared at the Edo State House of Assembly during plenary. Although there are a lot of unconfirmed stories or gossip spreading quickly about their relationship,  While many on social media wondered what his appearance at the House was for, others viewed that as a confirmation of the hinted romance with the Edo State lawmaker. Anyhow, the legendary singer addressed the rumours in a video post on his Instagram handle early Wednesday morning. Confirming his affection for the lawmaker, Tuface stated: “Yes, I love her. I want to marry her.” He added: “I said what I said. All of us will be alright… Honourable Natasha, I see she has been dragged, she has been called all sorts of n...

  The national grid has collapsed again, plunging millions of Nigerians into darkness. The collapse which happened on Wednesday is the first in 2025. Confirming this in a post on X, the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company reported that the system outage happened at 11:34 am local time. “Please be informed that we experienced a system outage today 12th February 2025 at 11:34hrs affecting all our feeders. “Restoration of supply is ongoing in collaboration with our critical stakeholders,” the post read. Abuja Electricity Distribution Company also confirmed the development on X. “Dear Valued Customer, we regret to inform you that a system disturbance occurred on the national grid at 11:34 am today causing a power outage across our franchise areas,” the company said. “While gradual restoration of power supply has commenced, please be assured that we are working closely with relevant stakeholders to fully restore electricity as soon as the grid is stabilised.” This incident follows a ...

Image by  Linda Hamilton  from  Pixaba y Asian markets saw mixed performances on Tuesday as investors reacted to Donald Trump’s approval of tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, with expectations of further trade restrictions. Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, and Mumbai recorded losses, while Seoul, Bangkok, and Taipei gained . Market uncertainty pushed gold prices to a record $2,942, as investors sought safe-haven assets. Analysts warned that expanding trade actions could trigger import restrictions and retaliatory measures, increasing volatility. "Obviously the tariff war is behind the rise; it just reflects more uncertainty and more tension in the global trade situation," said Marex analyst Edward Meir. Trump announced plans on Sunday to impose an additional 25% tariff on all steel and aluminium imports. He also said he would announce reciprocal tariffs this week, matching rates imposed by other countries and applying them immediately. Concerns over inflatio...